Russian Harlequin Hound vs Rat Terrier - Breed Comparison

Russian Harlequin Hound is originated from Russia but Rat Terrier is originated from United States. Russian Harlequin Hound may grow 32 cm / 13 inches higher than Rat Terrier. Russian Harlequin Hound may weigh 27 kg / 60 pounds more than Rat Terrier. Russian Harlequin Hound may live 6 years less than Rat Terrier. Both Russian Harlequin Hound and Rat Terrier has almost same litter size. Both Russian Harlequin Hound and Rat Terrier requires Low maintenance.

History

The origins of the Russian Harlequin Hound are somewhat vague as there are many Russian hunting hounds and many of them have a similar ancestry.

The Russian Harlequin Hound is an indigenous hound whose origins go back to the 18th century. The first breed standard was published in 1925.

The breed was then developed during the early 1900s – being a mix of Russian Hound and English Foxhound. The Russian Harlequin Hound is a rare dog breed and you will find it almost exclusively in Russia.

rat terrier - historyKnown also as the American Rat Terrier or even as the Rattie, this American dog breed is a farm dog, common on family farms during the 1920's and 1930's.

Miniatures or Standards, these dogs are also recognized by the American Kennel Clubs and thought of today as a multi-purpose companion dog.

He is an American dog breed, having come about from Fox Terriers, Old English White Terriers, Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers and others. Whippets and Italian Greyhounds have also come into the mix to add speed as a characteristic.

The Rat Terrier started to decline in numbers, and by the 1950's the numbers of the dog were so low that breeders stepped in to restore numbers.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
Russia
United States
Height Male:
55 - 68 cm
21 - 27 inches
20 - 36 cm
7 - 15 inches
Height Female:
55 - 68 cm
21 - 27 inches
20 - 36 cm
7 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 31 kg
39 - 69 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 31 kg
39 - 69 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
15 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
5 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Anglo-Russkaya Gontjaja, Russian Spotted Hound
Rattie, American Rat Terrier
Colors Available:
White with tan and black markings
Mix of colors - mostly tri-colored - white, tan, black
Coat:
Short and smooth
Single coat, short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

The Russian Harlequin Hound is a medium to large sized dog that stands between 55 – 68cm in height and weighs between 18 – 31kg.

He has a solid build with long, straight legs with a long tail that can be slightly curved. The head is broad and square with medium sized ears which are floppy. The short coat is essentially white with tri-colored markings of white, tan and black.

Temperament:

The Russian Harlequin Hound has an amicable expression to his face and is a friendly social dog breed. He is lively and energetic, and with his hunting background will required a good deal of exercise.

They make great family pets, getting on well with children in the home and making friends with any other pets in the family. He is a gentle dog and with training and socialization is well mannered and obedient.

He loves his human family and wants to spend time with them in their company. He isn't suited to life in the city and a small property, but will require a home with bigger grounds.

rat terrier puppy - descriptionThere are different sized Rat Terriers, but the mid-sized one stands roughly between 20 and 36cm in height and weighs between 3 and 4kg.

The single coat is short and smooth and comes in colors such as tan, grey, chocolate, black and in solid colors too such as white. They are mostly in tri-colors - white, tan, black. Ticking is also seen.

With his short coat he is seen as a low maintenance dog even though he is still a shedder, with heavier seasonal shedding.

The ears can sometimes be erect, otherwise they are half-erect, half floppy. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him a nice, distinctive look, but today the tail is often just left un-docked. It isn't unusual for a puppy to be born with a short or long tail.

Temperament:

Intelligent, wary, loyal, loving, playful but stubborn, your Rat Terrier is a little bit wary around strangers. Training and socialization can be good for this dog and help him t be obedient and well mannered in all situations. These dogs also want to please. He is an active dog too and makes a great playmate for children, getting on well with kids and other pets in the home.

Characteristics

The Russian Harlequin Hound has always been a hunting dog, known for his excellent hunting skills. He isn’t only a good hunting dog, but he makes a good family pet too.

If you’re looking for an unusual dog breed that is also intelligent, loyal and loving, then you might want to consider this Russian Harlequin Hound.

rat terrier dog - characteristicsThe Rat Terrier is such a clever, bright dog. These characteristics make him an excellent watchdog with strong jaws for his role of getting rid of rats on farms.

Even though he is a small dog, he isn’t particularly suited to life in the city on a small property as he has quite a shrill bark.

Because of him being small to medium in size, he is well suited to many homes, but you just have to watch out in the city if you live close to your neighbors as he is fairly noisy and active.

He would love a large property where he can just be himself. Provide him with the right home, and you’l have a friend for life.

Health Problems

Your Russian Harlequin Hound is a rare dog breed that can reach 12 years of age if well cared for. There are some dog ailments that must be watched for. Cancer, ear infections and skin allergies can be problems to look out for. Other troublesome ailments can be -

Bloat:

This is a more common disease with deep-chested dogs, and the deep chested Russian Harlequin Hound is prone to bloat. Gas is trapped in the stomach and the stomach can actually twist. It can be life threatening. Your pet will have a hard, swollen belly and will be restless and salivating. Get him to the vet immediately. He may well require immediate surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is all about problems with the hip joints. It is sad for any dog with this disease as it can be painful for your pet to walk. Inflammation and arthritis can mean your pet being in pain. He can become lame too.

There are anti-inflammatory medications and your vet will suggest other treatments to make sure your pet is as comfortable as can be.

rat terrier puppies - health problemsRat Terriers are generally feisty, healthy dogs who, with good care, can live to the ripe old age of 16, 17 or 18 years of age.

Just like with many other dogs, he can develop some of the more common dog illnesses there are. If you're opting for a puppy, find a good, reputable breeder.

Allergies:

It can be tricky trying to decide what kind of allergies are causing such problems with your pet. A skin allergy can cause a lot of itchiness and pain for your canine friend and he will bite and lick on the affected spots and make the situation worse. You will need to get him to the vet for some kind of treatment, as such an ailment can drive him mad.

Patellar Luxation:

This is a common problem in dogs, with the kneecap or patella being dislocated. It can cause a lot of pain and can be crippling for your dog.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

The Russian Harlequin Hound needs both mental and physical stimulation. He is a curious dog and wants to be out and about sniffing around and exploring. He will need to have a walk every day as well as lots of ball- and rope games. He will suit being the pet of a busy, outdoorsy family as opposed to a family of couch potatoes.

Grooming:

The Russian Harlequin Hound is looked upon as a low maintenance dog breed, and with his short, dense coat you can get by with just brushing him twice a week. Because he is such a lover of the outdoors check him over for ticks and fleas when you brush him.

Check inside his ears for redness and infection.

Open his mouth and look for bad, rotting teeth.

Check him over for any unusual lumps.

Make sure his eyes are clear and free of discharge.

Trim his nails.

Diet:

Every dog should be fed excellent food as this encourages good health. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be wonderfully convenient and nutritious if you get the better quality ones.

Try and include some simple, tasty home-made food to his diet . High-quality dry dog food will provide a balanced diet, but you want to make it a little more tasty for him by giving him some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. This can be added into the dry kibble twice a week.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock.

Diet:

rat terrier dogs - caringYour Rat Terrier can easily reach 16, 17 or 18 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to add variety by including some nutritious home-made food too.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.No complications - just plain and simple - the way dogs love it.

Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Rat Terrier is an active dog. He just loves to dig too, so if you live close to a beach, he will love running and digging in the sand. If this isn’t possible, he will be happy to be taken on walks with you and maybe for a run in the park.

He loves all ball games and running after a frisbee, and he’s so clever, maybe you can even teach him to fetch the frisbee for you.

Grooming:

The Rat Terrier is a low-maintenance dog and only requires having his coat brushed twice a week.

Check inside his mouth for bad teeth. You can even brush his teeth with special canine toothpaste and brush to remove tartar buildup.

Keep his nails trimmed too if he doesn’t wear them down naturally so as to prevent them hooking on things and ripping into the flesh.

Check inside your dog’s ears too. If you’re not experienced with trimming dog nails or cleaning inside dog’s ears, your vet or professional groomer will do it for you.

During these grooming sessions with your Rat Terrier, check for fleas and ticks as well as for any sores or new lumps. Also, his eyes should be clear and bright with no discharge or redness.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Santal Hound vs Russian Harlequin Hound - Breed Comparison
  2. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  3. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed Comparison
  4. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  5. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  6. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  7. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Hungarian Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  8. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Redbone Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  9. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  10. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  11. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  12. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  13. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  14. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Russian Harlequin Hound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  16. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  17. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  18. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  19. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Podenco Canario - Breed Comparison
  20. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  21. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  22. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  23. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Podenco Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  24. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Podenco Galego - Breed Comparison
  25. Russian Harlequin Hound vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Rat Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Rat Terrier vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Rat Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Rat Terrier vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  30. Rat Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Rat Terrier vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Rat Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Rat Terrier vs Patterdale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Rat Terrier vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Rat Terrier vs Bull Terrier Miniature - Breed Comparison
  36. Rat Terrier vs Norwich Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Rat Terrier vs Norfolk Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Rat Terrier vs English White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Rat Terrier vs Parson Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Rat Terrier vs Feist - Breed Comparison
  41. Rat Terrier vs Manchester Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Rat Terrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Rat Terrier vs Miniature Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Rat Terrier vs Cesky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Rat Terrier vs Glen of Imaal Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Rat Terrier vs Chilean Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Rat Terrier vs Black and Tan Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Rat Terrier vs Cairland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Rat Terrier vs Fell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Rat Terrier vs Lucas Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds